White House “Operates command and control center and stores weapons in Al-Shifa”
Opposition to hospital attacks: “Israeli citizens are responsible for protecting”
The U.S. White House announced on the 14th (local time) that the Palestinian armed faction Hamas is using hospitals in Gaza to conduct operations, hold hostages, and store weapons. However, they are still opposed to attacks on hospitals.
John Kirby, strategic communications coordinator for the White House National Security Council (NSC), said in an in-flight briefing on this day, “Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) are conducting military operations using some hospitals in the Gaza Strip, including Al-Shifa Hospital, and the tunnels underneath. “There is information that they are concealing, supporting, and holding hostages,” he said.
Coordinator Kirby explained, “Hamas and PIJ members are operating a command and control center at Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. They are storing weapons there and preparing to respond to Israeli military operations.”
Al-Shifa Hospital, along with Al-Quds Hospital, are one of the two largest hospitals in the Gaza Strip. Israel recently launched an attack on Al-Shifa Hospital, claiming that Hamas had installed military infrastructure near the hospital, and in the process, patients and medical staff were exposed to hostilities, drawing strong criticism from the international community.
The United States also maintains that operations near hospitals should be refrained, even if Hamas is using them as a shield. President Joe Biden also emphasized the day before, “Hospitals must be protected.”
Coordinator Kirby said, “I do not support airstrikes on hospitals, and I do not want to see fighting break out in hospitals where innocent, helpless, sick people are trying to receive treatment,” and emphasized, “Hospitals and patients must be protected.”
He continued, “Israel is bearing a greater burden because Hamas is deeply entrenched among its citizens. “However, Hamas’ actions do not relieve Israel of its responsibility to protect the citizens of Gaza,” he emphasized.
The United States plans to continue discussing a solution with Israel.
Meanwhile, with the US-China summit scheduled to be held on the 15th, Coordinator Kirby emphasized that there is no change in support for the ‘one China’ principle regarding the Taiwan issue.
“We do not support Taiwan’s independence,” he said. “What we want is for Taiwan’s democracy to continue to thrive.”
He added, “We do not want tensions in the Taiwan Strait that overturn the status quo in a unilateral way using force,” and added, “There is no change in the One China policy.”
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Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.